PS4 has space for cloud processing features, but rather than lock players into always-online connections for them to work, Sony’s president of worldwide studios Shuhei Yoshida has confirmed that it’s up to developers if they want to use them.

Sony will launch its Gaikai cloud service on PS4 and PS3 followed by Vita. It will grant immediate access to a catalog of PS3 games and it will spread and expand rapidly, Sony said. The cloud-based features on PS4 will launch sometime in early 2014.

Sony is making a little extra cash by selling $1.9 billion worth of convertible bonds. Some of the figure will be used to finance the company’s purchase of Gaikai, while up to a third will be invested into Japanese optics group Olympus Corp.

Sony acquired Dave Perry’s cloud gaming service Gaika earlier this year, and a new teaser has hinted at what both companies have in store for it. The service’s official site has been updated with a teaser image full of PS3-exclusive content.

Gaiaki founder and CEO David Perry has explained the power of cloud-based gaming services as a way of getting non-gaming companies a footing in the market. Perry also explains that companies missing out on big game launches like Call of Duty may now have a solution.

Rob Fahey makes sense of Sony’s Gaikai buy. Streaming is only part of PlayStation’s future, but it’s going to be a vital one which leverages an enviable back catalogue across multiple devices. Question is, who’s going to buy OnLive?

Gaikai has announced it’s added BestBuy, Capcom, Ubisoft and YouTube to its list of clients, and in the same breath, announced it’s hired former Fox Mobile COO and ex-Sony Digital Pictures CFO, Mark Anderson. In December, it was also announced Eurogamer would be hosting Gaiaki demos, and Origin would host Gaiaki streaming via its portal. […]